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2024年顺德区普通高中高三教学质量检测（一）英语试题本试卷共8页，满分120分，考试用时120分钟。注意事项：1.本试卷分选择题和非选择题两部分。答卷前，考生务必将自己的姓名、考生号、试室号、座位号填写在答题卡上。用2B铅笔将答题卡上的相应位置填涂考生号。因听说另考，试题从第二部分

的“阅读理解”开始，试题号从“21”开始。2.回答选择题时，选出每小题答案后，用2B铅笔在答题卡上对应题目的答案标号涂黑；如需要改动，用橡皮擦干净后，再选涂其他答案。答案写在试卷上无效。3.非选择题必须用黑色字迹的钢笔或签字笔作答，答案必须写在答题卡各题目指定区域内相应位置

上；如需要改动，先划掉原来的答案，然后再写上新答案；不准使用铅笔和涂改液。不按以上要求作答无效。4.考生必须保证答题卡的整洁。考试结束后，将答题卡交回。第二部分阅读（共两节，满分50分）第一节（共15小题；

每小题2.5分，满分37.5分）阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。AAnimalCareVolunteerPrograminArgentina-CordobaProjectde

tailsWanttovolunteerwithanimalsinArgentina-Córdoba?AnimalCareVolunteerProgrambenefitsbothrescuedanimalsandchildrenfromlow-incomeareasofCórdoba.Volunt

eershelpatasmallfarmthatworksasananimalshelterandlearningcentre,wherelocalchildrenspendthedayconnectingwithanimalsoutdoorsandparticipatinginact

ivitiesthattheywouldnotbeabletoaccessthroughtheirownmeans.Whattoexpect?Fromhorsestobabygoats,rabbitstochicken

s,volunteersaretaskedwiththeimportantresponsibilityoftendingtotheneedsoftheseanimals,ensuringtheyrecei

vethecare,treatment,andattentionnecessaryfortheirwell-being.●Volunteertasksmayvarybuttypicallyinvolv

e:●Playingandentertaininganimals●Keepingtheirlivingspacesclean●Maintainingthegrounds,includingpaintingandrepairingasnecessary●

Tendingtocropsandmanagingnaturalfertilizers●Welcomingandguidingvisitors●HelpingtoorganizefundraisingeventsW

hatwillyougain?ByvolunteeringontheAnimalCareproject,you’llbeaddingvaluetothelocalcommunity,whilealsodevelopingpersonallyandprof

essionallyby:●PracticingyourSpanish●Developingyourcommunicationskills●Gaininganimalcareandfarmexperi

ence●FullyengagingyourselfinArgentineculture●ExploringthestunningregionandcityofCórdoba21.WhatisthemainpurposeoftheAnimalCar

ePrograminCórdoba?A.Toprovidetrainingforvolunteers.B.Torunacommercialfarmforprofit.C.Toimprovethelifeofthelocalpeop

le.D.Tocareforanimalsandchildrenalike.22.Whichtaskmayvolunteersdoattheanimalshelter?A.Cleaninganimallivingsp

aces.B.Conductingmedicalresearch.C.Organizingtouristtripstodifferentcities.D.PaintingandrepairingthecityofCórdoba.23.Whatw

illyougainfromvolunteeringthere?A.Runningafarmbusiness.B.ImprovingyourSpanish.C.ExploringCórdobaforfree.D.Learningtocookforthelocals.BMydaughteri

sasmartkid,butshe’dneverreadanentirechapterbookforpleasure.Shehadneverdevelopedanyhabitofclassicdeepreadin

g—withtwoeyesinfrontofpaper,andnothingelsegoingon.WhenIfacedthistruth,itfeltlikeaparentingfailure.Eventhoughwe’

dreadmanystorybookswhenshewasyoungerandwelivedinahousestuffedwithbooks,Ihadn’tmanagedtoinstill（灌输）oneoflife’sfundamen

talpleasuresinmykid.Asalifelongreader,Iunderstandhowreadingenhancesthefabricofourexperience.Yetmydau

ghterclaimedtodislikereading.Itoldherreadingnovelswasthebestwaytolearnabouthowpeople’sinsideswork.Shesaidshecouldlearnmorefromthepeo

pleonsocialmedia,whowereallaboutspillingtheirinsides.Isaidbooksofferedstorytelling.Shesaid,“Smartphones.”Isaidbooks

taughthistory.Shesaid,“TheInternet.”Icouldnotwinourdebates,becausefewofmydaughter’sargumentsagainstreadingseemedwrongtome.Yes,readi

ngisawaytodiscovernewworlds—soistheentireInternet.Butthat’snotwhyIwantedmydaughtertopickupabook.Itwasabo

utexperiencingacertainmagic.Youknowwhenanauthordescribesafeelingyoudidn’thave,andahundredlightbulbsgooffonthetopofyourhead?Iw

antedhertohaveachanceatfeelingthat.Ascreen-basedmediumcan’tcreatethiskindofrelationshipbecause,byitsnature,themediummustfillinalltheblanksfor

you.Booksleavespaceforblanks—andfortheinternalinventiontheycaninspire.SoIdecidedtocutthroughallthereasoningwithacold,hardpracticality

:cash.Itoldmy11-year-oldIwouldpayher$100toreadanovelwithinamonth.Ofcourse,shesaidyes.Shefinishedthebookinsevendays.Thensheevenaskedforth

esequel（续集）—atnoextracharge.Willthisleadtoherreading“LittleWomen”?Willitresultinalifelonghabitofreading?Idon’tknow.WhatIdoknowistha

tIfinallyopenedanewdoorforhertotheprintedpage.ThatfeelslikethebestmoneyIeverspent.24.Whatdoesthe“parent

ingfailure”inparagraph1referto?A.Failuretogetalongwellwithherdaughter.B.Failuretomeetherdaughter’semotion

alneeds.C.Failuretodevelopareadinghabitinherdaughter.D.Failuretoprovideenoughstorybooksinthehouse.25.

Whydoestheauthorwantherdaughtertoreadbooks?A.Tohelpherdiscovernewworlds.B.Tohelpherfillinalltheblanks.C.TohelpherspendlesstimeontheInternet.

D.Toletherfeelamomentofdeepconnection.26.Howdoestheauthorfeelaboutspending$100toencourageherdaughtertoread?A.S

heregretsspendingthemoney.B.Sheisunsureifitwillleadtoaloveofreading.C.Shefeelsdisappointedwiththefinal

outcome.D.Sheisconfidentinherdaughter’sfuturechoices.27.Whatcouldbeabesttitleforthepassage?A.CreatingaReader:

AMother’sJourneyB.EncouragingReading:TipsforChildrenC.TheMagicofBooksinaDigitalAgeD.TheDeclineofReadingAmongChildrenCPeopleoftenthinkthatscie

ntificdiscoveriescomefromthegeniuseslikeCharlesDarwinandAlbertEinstein.Suchaviewoverlookstheeffortsoflesser-knownpi

oneers.Also,popularbeliefholdsthatthesuddenideaisthekeytomakingscientificbreakthroughs,asifitjustappear

sinsomeone’smind.Thisopinionmightbepartiallytrue.Itdoesn’taccuratelyrepresentthetruenatureofscientificbreakthroughs.Apar

tfrom,thegreatfiguressuchasDarwinandEinstein,whosecontributionsarerightlyrecognized-webelieveinnovat

ionislargelyatrial-and-errorprocess,wheretwostepsforwardmaysometimescomewithonestepbackorevenmorestepstotherightorleft.TakeJohnNicholson,alesser-k

nownscientistfromthe1910s.Hewasamathematicalphysicistwhosuggestedtheideaof‘proto-elements’inspace.Bymixingdifferentweightsoftheseatoms,hecouldrecov

ertheweightsoftheelementsintheperiodictable.Thoughproto-elementsdon’tactuallyexist,Nicholson’swildideasledhimtoproposeanewtheoryaboutatomicstructur

e.NielsBohr,theNobelprize-winningfatherofmodernatomictheory,laterbuiltonthisideatodevelophisfamousmodeloftheatom.Whatcanwelearnfromthisstory?Sc

ienceisalwaysevolving,similartotheevolutionofanimalspecies.Justrandomorunexpectedchangesofideasmayopenthedoorf

oradvancesinscience.Supportforthisideacanbeseeninmanyareas.Forexample,inUShorseracing,the‘acey-deucy’stirru

pplacement,wheretherider’sleftfootisplacedlowerthantherightfoot,providesaspeedadvantageonovaltracks.Itw

ascreatedbyalittle-knownridernamedJackieWestrope.HadWestropedonecarefulresearchtodevelopthistechnique?No.Hehadaleginjurythatpreventedhimfromfullybend

inghisleftknee.Thischangejusthappenedtoimprovehisleft-handturningperformance.Asaresult,manyridersquicklyad

optedtheacey-deucystyle,whichisstillusedinracingtoday.Manyotherexamplesshowscienceprogressoftencomesfrommistakes,accidents,orpureluck.It’

stimetoabandonthenaivebeliefsofgeniusandexplorethetruecausesofcreativity.28.Whatisthepurposeofparagraph1?A.Tosupportspecificideas.B.Todescribeacom

monbelief.C.Tocomparecertainbeliefs.D.Tochallengeapopularview.29.WhatdoesthewriterimplyaboutDarwinandEinsteininparagraph2?A.Theyset

anexampleforotherstofollow.B.Theirwayofworkinghasbeenmisunderstood.C.Theyareexceptionstotheusualrule.D.Theirachievementsdeservegreaterre

cognition.30.WhatdoweknowabouttheideaofNicholson?A.Itmadehimfamousasanimportantscientist.B.Peopleonlyfullyunderstooditlaterin

history.C.Otherscientistswereinitiallydoubtfulaboutit.D.Itpavedthewayforsomeoneelse’sbreakthrough.31.Whatismostinterestingaboutthe‘acey-deucy’stirru

padjustment?A.Whyitwasmade.B.Howquicklypeopleusedit.C.Theresearchworkbehindit.D.Theclevernessofitsfirstuser.DThishasbeenthedecad

eofAI,withoneadvancementafteranother.Bymid-century,wemayhaveartificialgeneralintelligence（AGI）—machinesthatcandoa

llthethingshumanscan.Andthat’sjustthebeginning.Machinesaren’taffectedbythesamephysicallimitationsthataffecthu

manintelligence.Oncemachinesoutperformhumans,progresstowardstheselimitscouldspeedupevenmore.Whatdoesthismeanforus?Canwemake

surewelivesafelywiththesemachines?Onthepositiveside,AIisalreadyusefulinmanyareas,andsuperAIcouldbesuperuseful.However,asAI

growsmorepowerful,itbecomescrucialtodefineitsgoalsclearly.Therearemanyfolkstoriesaboutpeoplewhoaskforthewrongthin

g,withdisastrousconsequences.Forinstance,KingMidaswishedeverythinghetouchedtoturntogold,buthedidn’texpecthisbreakfasttoturntogol

dtoo.SoweneedtocreatepowerfulAImachinesthatare‘human-friendly’—withvaluesthatmatchourown.Onethingthatmakesthistaskdifficultisthathuman

saren’talwayskindorreliable.Weoftendomanyterriblethingstomanyothercreatureswithwhomwesharetheplanet.Ifsuperintelligen

tmachinesdon’tactbetterthanwedo,we’llbeindeeptrouble.Forourownsafety,wewantthemachinestobemorallyaswellascognitively（认知的）superiortohumans.Wewantt

hemtoaimforthemoralhighground.However,thisutopianvisionfacestwobigproblems.Thefirstis‘gettingstarted’problem—pointingthe

machinesintherightdirection,whichwon’tbeeasybecausewearealwaysconflictedaboutourownvalues.Thesecondproblem

isthe‘destination’problem—whatitwouldmeantoreachthisdestination.Ifweputourselvesinthehandsofthesesupermachines,we

mightloseourownfreedom—whichisakeypartofbeinghuman.Sowhereexactlywouldthatleavehumanbeings?It’smoreimportanttothinkaboutthedestinati

onnowandbecarefulaboutwhatwewishfor.32.WhatpointdoesthewritermakeaboutAIinparagraph1?A.AGIwilldefinitelyreplacehum

ans.B.AI’sfuturepotentialseemslimitless.C.There’smuchtolearnaboutsuperAI.D.AIsharesmanyfeatureswithhumans.33.Whydoestheauthormentionthestor

yofKingMidas?A.Tocomparedifferentkindsofgoals.B.TosuggestthatAIshouldreflecthumanvalues.C.Toshowpoorlydefinedgoalsmayleadtoproblems.D.Towarn

aboutthedangerofbecominggreedywithAI.34.Whatchallengedoesthewritermentioninparagraph3?A.Gettinghumanstoactmoremorally.B.Building

abetterworldforallcreatures.C.MakingAImorehuman-friendlythanhumans.D.ChoosingwhichvaluesAIshouldsharewithus.35.What

doestheunderlinedphrase“thisutopianvision”referto?A.Humanscanensurethesafetyofmachines.B.Machineswillhelpsolvethesetwobigproblems.C.Humansan

dmachineshavethesamemoralground.D.Machinesgetsmarterandmoremoralthanhumans.第二节（共5小题；每小题2.5分，满分12.5分）阅读下

面短文，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。有两项为多余选项。Charisma—orrizz（人气）wascrowned2023wordoftheyearbythepublisheroftheOxfordEngl

ishDictionary.Whocouldblameusforobsessingovercharisma?Itcansmoothsocialinteractions,winusfriends,andscore

promotions.36Approachableandrelatable.ManyexecutivesandprofessionalsIfindconfidentandchattyadmitcharismawasn’tsomethingth

atcamenaturally.37Dave,achiefexecutiveofCargill,madeapointtorememberthedetailsanddatesofpeople’slives,

suchascolleagues’birthdays.He’dpenwordsofthanksorcongratulations.38Treatingpeopledifferentlywillbackfire,saysCarlaHarris

,aMorganStanleyexecutive.Shechatsupthewomancleaningtheoffice,thereceptionistatherdoctor’s,theguywaitingalongsideherfo

rtheelevator.“Don’tbeconfused,”shetellsyoungpeople.Executiveassistantsareoftenthemostpowerfulpeopleinthebuilding,a

ndyouneverknowhowsomeonecanhelporhurtyou.Acceptingyourmistakes.It’snotthatcharmingpeopledon’toccasionallymispronounceawordorspilltheirco

ffee.39Theyacknowledgethemistakeinsteadoftryingtohideit,makeasmalljoke,andmoveon.Beingperfectlypolishedallthetimeisnotonlyexhausting,it’si

mpossible.Appearingflawlesscancomeoffasfake.Atitsheart,charismaisn’taboutsomegrandperformance.40It’saboutmakingourconversationpartnersfeelthe

y’rethecharming—orinterestingorfunny—ones.Whileskillsgetyouhired,it’scommunicationandtrustthatleaduptheladder.A.Everyoneis

important.B.Theyhadtoworkonit.C.Theyeasilygetattention.D.It’salsopossibletodevelop.E.Theyjusthaveafastercom

eback.F.It’safeelingwebringoutinothers.G.Welikepeoplewhomakefewmistakes.第三部分语言运用（共两节，满分30分）第一节（共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分）阅读下面短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出可以填入空白

处的最佳选项。Forher68thbirthdayin2019,RosaSaitodecidedtogiveherselfanunusualgift—shedecidedtobecomeamodel.Overthepastyears,shehadbeen41byphotogra

phersonthestreets,eachtellinghertoconsidermodeling.Sheinitially42theideabecausenooneeverhadcommentedonherappearance.Butovertime,somethingbeg

antochangeinsideher.“BeingspottedmademerealizeIcouldstillachievesomethingjustfor43atthisstageofmylife,”sherecalled.44,shed

ecidedtoembracetheopportunity.Herfirstcastingdidn’tlandherajob,butthe45fueledherexcitement.“Iwasusedtofacingchallengesmywholelife.Iwas46tokeepgoing,”

Saitosaid.Atjust22,shehadlearned47whenshecaredforhersickmother.Later,sheraisedherthreechildrenaloneafterthelossofherhus

band.Sheembracedwhateverlife48her.At69,Saito’sefforts49whenshegotherfirstmodellingjobforaBraziliancosmeticsbr

and.“Astheoldestpersonthere,Iwalkedintothephotographystudiofeelingso50,”sherecalled.“Butsoon,Irelaxed.Igotsomuc

h51fromtheyoungermodels.Irealizemypresencewasshowingthemthatyoucangrowolderwithout52,”shesays.Now73,Saitohasposedformanyfashionbrands.She’

s53tohaveanewstartafterher70s.“Istillhaveplentyofdreamsforthefuture,becausethereal54ofmaturityistotakealeapintotheunknown,

”shesays.“It’snevertoolateto55yourself.Igainstrength,courageandconfidencefromeveryexperiencewhereIfacefear.”

41.A.congratulatedB.examinedC.appointedD.approached42.A.putforwardB.triedoutC.noteddownD.brushedoff43.A.myfamilyB.myselfC.mycommunityD.myfellows

44.A.TemporarilyB.AccidentallyC.EventuallyD.Permanently45.A.rejectionB.prejudiceC.dilemmaD.trick46.A.preparedB.allowedC.forc

edD.persuaded47.A.toughnessB.faithfulnessC.toleranceD.confidence48.A.promisedB.awardedC.broughtD.igno

red49.A.disappearedB.continuedC.paidoffD.stoodout50.A.naturalB.frightenedC.delightedD.nervous51.A.inspirationB.envyC.admirat

ionD.instruction52.A.fearB.painC.doubtD.regret53.A.hesitantB.proudC.impatientD.lucky54.A.advantageB.burdenC.fearD.beauty

55.A.questionB.reshapeC.limitD.teach第二节（共10小题；每小题1.5分，总分15分）阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词，或括号内单词的正确形式。Themuch-lovedcartoonaboutBluey,aseven-year-olddog,hasb

eenaworldwidephenomenonsinceitlaunchedbackin2018.Itsstoryisadeepreflectiononchange.Besideslaugh-out-loudmoments,italsocontainsseriouselements—scen

esofparentingsituationsthatwillbe56（painful）familiartoanyfamilies,aswellasinferencestomajorlifeeventslikedeath,5

7（marry）anddivorce.It’saboutexploringtheadultworldwiththeexcitementofchildhood,which58（land）BlueyanInternationalEmmyawardin2019.Whatviewe

rswon’thavepredictedwillbehowmuchthisepisodeisinfluencedbyTaoist（道家）philosophy,59ancientChinesebeliefsystemwhichisbase

dontryingtolive60harmonywiththeuniverse.WhenBlueysadlytellsherclassmatesshe’smovingaway,herteacherCalypsoreadsastory61（call）TheFarmer.Inth

estory,eachtime,theneighboursaskthefarmerit’s“goodluck”or“badluck”.Everytime,thefarmersimplyreplies:“we’llsee”,andthestoryendsabruptl

y.“Isitahappy62sadending?”asksBlueyafterwards.“It’sboth,”saysCalypso.“Idon’tunderstand,”saysBluey.“Everyt

hingwillworkoutthewayit’ssupposedto,Bluey,”shereplies.ThestoryisactuallyanoldtalethatfirstoriginatedintheHuainanzi,anancientChinesetext63（da

te）backto139BC.Itremindspeoplethatwehavenocontrolornorealwayofknowingwhethereventsthathappentousare“good”or“bad

”.Allwecanbecertainofisthatchangeis64（avoidable）,butbeingopentochangeand65（trust）thatthingswillworkou

tforthebestisthebestwaytohandleit.第四部分写作（共两节，满分40分）第一节（满分15分）假设你是李华，上周末你参加了一场你喜欢的歌手的演唱会。请你给英国朋友Peter写一封邮件分享你的经

历。内容包括：1.你最喜欢的歌曲；2.你的感受。注意：1.词数80左右；2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。第二节（满分25分）“What?Laura’sgoingtobehomethenightofmyparty?”Iscr

eamed.MysisterwasthelastpersonIwantedaroundthenightofmyparty.Iwasreallylookingforwardtohavingthehousealltomyselfwhilemy

friendswereover.Afterall,itwasmybirthday!Tryingtogetmymothertounderstand,Isaid,“Mom,can’tyoufindsomeplaceforLauratogo,likecou

sinEllie’s?Havingherherewillruineverything!”Ihadfinallytalkedmyparentsintolettingmeinviteafewofmyschoolfriendstomyhom

eformytwelfthbirthday.Ihadbeenwaitingforthisnightforweeks.NowIhadtoputupwithmyoldersisterbeingaround.Itwascompletelyunfair.“Now,Emily,”mymot

hersaidtome,tryingtocalmmedown.Laurawillstayinherownroom.Besides,Idon’tunderstandwhyyou’resoupsetaboutherbeinghere.”“She’llhangoutan

dstealalltheattention.It’sgoingtoruinthewholeparty!”Iargued.“Laurabeinghomewillonlyruinitifyouletit,”mymotherresponded.“

Youneedtogetabetterattitude,younglady,ortherewon’tbeapartyatall!”Irushedintomybedroomandthrewmyselfont

hebed.Frustrated,Ithought,HowcanmymomsayIneedabetterattitude.Laurawastheteenagerwiththeattitude,notme!Myangerwasgettingt

hebestofmeasIburiedmyfaceinmypillowtohidemysobbing.“WhydoIhavetohaveanoldersisteranyway?Whycouldn’tIhavebeenanonlyc

hild?”Ithought.Thedayspassedslowlybutfinallythetimeforthepartyarrived.TheairwasfilledwithexcitementwhileIwaitedformyfriendstocome.Atl

astIwasgoingtohavethespecialbirthdaypartyIhadbeenwaitingfor.IcouldonlyhopethatLaurawouldstayinherroom.Everythingwentasplann

ed.Thegirlswereallinthelivingroom,readyforthebigparty.Suddenly,Inoticedmovementbehindthecurtainbythewindow.注意：1.续写的词数应为150左右；2.请按如下格式在

答题卡的相应位置作答。Aswesteppedover,apossum（负鼠）camerunningout,headingtowardus.Laterthatnight,Iwenttomymomtothankherfortheparty.2024年顺德区普通高中教学质量检测（

一）英语参考答案第二部分阅读理解（共两节，满分50分）第一节（共15小题；每小题2.5分，满分37.5分）A篇21.D22.A23.BB篇24.C25.D26.B27.AC篇28.B29.C30.D31.AD篇32.B33.

C34.C35.D第二节（共5小题；每小题2.5分，满分12.5分）36.D37.B38.A39.E40.F第三部分语言知识及应用（共两节满分30分）第一节完型填空（15小题，每小题1分，满分15分）41.D42.D43.B44.C45.A46.A47.A48.C49.C50.D51.C52.

A53.B54.D55.B第二节：语法填空（共10小题，每小题1.5分，满分15分）56.painfully57.marriage58.landed59.an60.in61.called62.or63.dating64.unavoidable65.trus

ting第四部分写作（共两节，满分40分）第一节应用文写作（满分15分）OnePossibleVersion:DearPeter,Howareyoudoing?Iamthrilledtosharewithyouanunforgettable

experienceIhadlastweekend.IattendedEasonChan’s“FearandDreams”concertanditwasincredible.EasonChan,mybelovedsinger,performedwonderful

songslive,amongwhich“ThePossibilityofaDream”struckmemost.Thelyricsspoketotheheart,conveyingthemessageofneversurrenderingtofate.Also,themelod

ywastrulyuplifting,withsoulfultunesandvibrantrhythms.SingingalongtoEasonandthecrowd,Ifeltinspiredandtotallylostinaworldof

dreams.Theentireconcertwasafantasticfeast.HowIwishyoucouldhavebeentherewithmetoexperienceit!Hopingtohearfromyousoon

.Yours,LiHua第二节读后续写（满分25分）Aswesteppedover,apossum（负鼠）camerunningout,headingtowardus.Thepossumwasobviouslyscaredandbegandashingaroundwild

ly.Chaoserupted.Girlswerescreamingandtryingtohidefromthisnastythingatthesametime.IstoodmotionlessuntilLaur

aranintoseewhatwashappening.Whensheenteredthelivingroom,thepossumscamperedtowardher.Attheverylastsecond,Lauraopenedth

efrontdoorandallowedittorunout.Thankgoodness!Ifthepossumhadbittensomeone,orgottenintothefood,itwouldhavebeenatotaldisaster!Weallsighedwithrelief.

Iwaspleasantlysurprisedthatmysisterwastheretohelpwithallthechaos.Laterthatnight,Iwenttomymomtothankherforthe

party.“Didyouhaveagoodtime?”Mymotherasked,“Isuredid,Mom,”Ianswered.“Thingswentreallywellandthereweresomegreat

surprisestoo.”“Oh,really?”mymotherresponded.“Likewhatkindofsurprises?”IgotasillygrinonmyfacewhenIsai

d,“Oh,likepossumsandoldersisters.”Mymotherhadapuzzledlookonherface,butbeforeshecouldasktheobviousquestions,Iskippedoutoftheroom,st

illwithmysmilespreadingacrossmyface.Iwasbeamingandthinkingthatbeingtwelveandhavinganoldersisterwasn'tsobadatall.